Light to the brain relieves winter blues

An unusual method of delivering light therapy to treat Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): through the ear. Finnish researchers present their invention with positive findings from a randomized controlled trial, in this short news clip.

Why Do We Dream?

People who study dreaming to find out why we dream have found several potential answers: they help keep us asleep, they contribute to good mental health, and they help us find answers to questions we seek. But what do they mean, and can we control them? This excellent documentary interviews scientists, dreamers, and people with sleep and dream disorders to find out more about this always fascinating subject.

The Full Story – Soften the Fck Up

Mental health issues and young men, in an awareness campaign about depression, anxiety, suicide, shame, and social issues from male perspectives. Clips of personal narrative in a simple, accessible video. Check out other videos and the whole campaign at the Australian web site.

Tristan Jepson Memorial Foundation 2008 Lecture

Ian Hickie presents research on mental health issues in the Australian legal profession. He discusses help-seeking behaviours, productivity, disability, economic burden of illness, suicide and prevention efforts, substance use, neurobiology, treatments, gender and age differences, stigma and discrimination, and more. Extremely well-researched presentation with many statistics and perspectives. The 40 minute lecture is followed by a panel discussion, a Q&A session with the audience, and a brief talk by organization co-founder George Jepson. The Tristan Jepson Memorial Foundation works to “raise awareness, improve education and build effective models of support which focus on mental health wellbeing” in the legal profession, and funds relevant research including that of Prof. Hickie.

Caleb

Interview with Caleb Poirier about his experiences of depression, becoming homeless, and eventually founding Camp Take Notice, a tent city for people without homes in Ann Arbor, MI. Read more at InvisiblePeople.tv, and watch another interview with Poirier with more details about the camp, its peer support, principles, and progressive solutions. Very articulate and perceptive views that challenge stereotypes and conventions. The camp is a registered non-profit and accepts online donations.

I Am Alive

“I am alive because…” An excellent compilation of reasons to live for those who are suicidal, from people’s comments on why and how they are alive now after they experienced suicidal crises. Helpful without being patronizing. Reminders like these at the right moment can save a life.

Today is the APA Mental Health Month Blog Day, and I’m blogging about suicide prevention since I’m alive because of good online info, and want to share it with others who benefit. If you’re having mental health issues, please find help with PsychCentral’s guide, or try an international list of phone hotlines or online hotlines. And replay this great video.

Click the image to see the web-wide list of bloggers writing about mental health, and click here for a roundup of all the participating PsychCentral bloggers.

It Gets Better Canada

Well-made documentary on bullying and LGBT youth. Includes interview clips with celebrities including Rick Mercer, and average Canadians. Part of the It Gets Better viral video campaign. Canadians can call 1-800-SUICIDE for 24/7 help in a crisis; for international numbers click here.

It Gets Better: Dan and Terry

Renowned columnist Dan Savage launched the It Gets Better suicide prevention project for LGBTQI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, two-spirited, questioning, queer, intersex) youth bullied in high school and intolerant communities. It’s hard to feel isolated in a cliquish social setting with bigots and bullies, but once you leave you can find acceptance in new communities, meet friends and lovers, and live a great life. Dan and his partner Terry started the video series with their own stories of being bullied (“things got better the day I left high school”), and invite others to upload their own to YouTube. The It Gets Better Project now has dozens of inspiring videos about how people left behind the bigots, and are glad they didn’t give in to suicidal despair.

(Struggling with suicidal thoughts? Help is available through the Trevor Project hotline at 866-4-U-TREVOR, Laura’s Playground online hotline for transgendered people, and 24/7 crisis lines worldwide.)

Sexual Abuse and Lifetime Diagnosis of Psychiatric Disorders: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Psychiatric disorders developing from the trauma from sexual abuse and/or correlated with later mental health issues, and what it could mean for future research. A SciVee pubcast, DOI: 10.4016/18828.01.

Ed Kittrell of 1 Lyfe Presents Winter Basketball Classic

Liletta Thompson of Big Sis & Company Productions covers a basketball game and suicide prevention awareness event by 1 Lyfe, talking with organizers about surviving suicide, abuse, and suicide attempts, about community activism, and how people can get help [global hotlines here]. Nicely produced and edited video, with great messages.